Music for Viols and Friends continues its season with a concert of music that might have been heard in the colonies and the early United States, performed by Duo Maresienne (Carol Lewis, pardessus and bass viola da gamba; Olav Chris Henriksen, Baroque and English guitars).  The program will include music by Simpson, Ford, J.C. Bach, Vidal, Trille Labarre, and others.

The Pilgrims and other European settlers brought their music with them to the new land, and we can follow a trail of music, books, and instruments from the 17^th century onward.  By the 18^th century, we can see that colonial libraries contained music for viola da gamba, Baroque guitar, and English guitar.  Advertisements in periodicals from that time show what sheet music and instruments were for sale.  Finally, composers arrived on the scene, including the guitarist Barthélemy Trille Labarre, who fled the French revolution to settle in Boston, where he taught, conducted, and composed.  These composers’ music reflects their national origins, and it was very much enjoyed by musicians and audiences on this side of the Atlantic.  Duo Maresienne will perform a selection of dance music, variations, sonatas, and fantasies by some familiar composers, such as J.C. Bach and Christopher Simpson, and some probably unfamiliar ones, such as Vidal, Trille Labarre, and Hewitt. There will be a lovely set of guitar pieces by the Englishwoman Anne Ford, a talented musician who played both English guitar and viola da gamba.